Monday, 23 September 2013

Late last night or the night before, twenty five robbers
came knocking .

No, not that rhyme, but words – a lot of words -certainly came knocking one night recently.

I
spent almost a whole night awake reading Carl Hiassen’s first novel, “Tourist
Season”. That man can be a compelling writer. I’ve read a Hiassen before so I really should have known better than to open up those pages at bedtime. But I did. Alas!

If you've never come across his books, Hiaasen writes with a witty and gently
mocking sympathy for the pain that life brings to people, or that people bring
on themselves.

His "Everglades at the max" adventures usually circle around a crime or two - often gruesome - plus a lost but loveable
under-dog hero, a lively but not-to-be intimidated girl and a host of eccentrics with the best or worst
of intentions. Alongside the danger, violence and entertainment, Hiassen’s message was clear even back in 1992, when this book was published. Damage was being done to
the Florida eco-systems by thoughtless development, laziness and greed. An eco
message is the steely core within a Hiassen romp and makes his books
a bit more than airport fiction.

But back to here and now and Word Turning, with me bumbling about on my Procrastination Masters again. What exactly was
the special Hiassen wisdom I spotted? Why I am I mentioning his writing, other than in
connection with the bags under my eyes?

Here is is, with words straight from page 12.Imagine the scene: Wiley, an old newspaper editor, is talking to a clueless
writer about the column he’s just submitted.

“Here we go again, Mr Journalism
School.” Wiley was gnawing his lower lip, a habit manifested when he composed a
news story. “You got some good details in here. The red Royal Tourister. The
black Raybans. That’s good. Why don’t you toss out the rest of this shit and
move the juicy stuff up top? Do your reader a favour for once. Don’t make ‘em
go on a scavenger hunt for the goodies.”

Re-read those last sentences.

“Do your reader a favour for
once. Don’t make ‘em go on a scavenger hunt for the goodies.”

Gulp! I am one given to too much scavenger hunt writing. I love turning over words, I like playing with language, enjoy expanding on a setting or describing a character, smile when I slip in a coy reference. I tend to take my time. Words? It's just possible I use too many of the damn things.

Hiassen, coming from a journalism
background, doesn't. He writes so that his story reads swiftly and sharply. He doesn’t hang around, blocking the
plot with sensitive, “creative” descriptions. You want a story? You got a
story!

Note I'm not talking about my writing “voice”here. I don’t
want to write “Hiassen” and my story wouldn’t suit “Hiassen”. I am talking about
the need to edit, rehape, cut - and the writer’s responsibility to the reader, especially the young reader.One more time. “Don’t make ‘em go on a scavenger hunt.”

Okay. So I’m off to hack through my over-written Work in Progress.
I may lose some overhanging phrases, even some beautiful ones. I will slash away some wordy undergrowth. There could be slaughter and the quiet disposal of
unwanted characters. And maybe this will make my story better. Maybe.

Ssssh! Off I go, into the wilderness of words. I may be some time.

Happy writing, all.

Penny

Ps. Carl Hiassen has also written several books for young teens too:
“Scat”, “Flush”,“Hoot” and last year, his latest: “Chomp”.

Sunday, 22 September 2013

Rosen is writing in his "about my
family" voice, retelling a familiar situation - though from before the
days of in-car entertainment – and it's one that children and parents enjoy
recognising.

As you’d expect, it's about a car journey.
Mum is driving and two brothers are squabbling in the back. The two bored boys
say things to get her attention and get the other into trouble.

The bothered
mum amuses them, threats them, takes firm action, and then - the poem implies -
the voices in the back start up again.

The poem is mostly dialogue:
Mum and the kid's voices from the back seat, but I've often used it as a starter for a class poem about a school event or outing.

Here’s how Rosen's poem starts:

Mum says: Right you two. This is a very
long car journey. I want you two to be good. I’m drivingand I can’t drive properly
if you two go mad in the back. And we say, OK mum, OK. Don’t worry. And off we go. And we start the Moaning . . .

Something similar – although not in this exact way - happens to me. I've decided the voices from the back seat are my occupational
hazard.

Here’s how it works. Often, while reading
fiction or watching tv or a film drama, I think: Right. This is a very long
story and I want to relax and really enjoy it.

Then the small voice in my
head starts up. Not two bothersome boys but my internal “writer” voice. "Now
x could be coming next - but is it more likely y will happen? Or are we being
set up for? . . . it goes. On and on.

The plot sticks a head out of the cupboard
and starts murmuring “I’m going to do this. Or that. Or am I? Did you notice
that bit of foreshadowing?”The plot options fliplike a rolodex rotating in the brain, slowing at this twist or
that turn and impossible to stop.

There are good moments and less
annoying times. Suddenly a word or phrase or an image sings out from a page, an
interesting object appears, an amazing fact pops into view and my mind starts
chattering again. "What if? Now that would be fascinating to use.
Should I scribble the words down?"I reach for the pad that's always beside me and
scribble a word or two. With luck, I’ll put that fragment of an idea into the
box by my desk.

So my WORDTURNING blog is really about those sparks,
those moments when something pops into the head, and the writing mind, like
Burglar Bill, says "I'll have that." Or, like Blind Pew, delivers the unwelcome Black Spot.

“Sure about this blog?”says that other too-knowing voice from the back
seat. “You know you’re always procrastinating? Enough to be doing a Masters in it?.Will writing a blog about writing
really help the situation? Remember that tome-in-progress, eh? Shouldn't we
be nearly there by now?"

Live in hope, I answer. Today's an
optimistic day. It's definitely a very occasional blog and it's only just beginning.

"Hmm. Under
construction more like,"a glum voice mutters.

Meanwhile, welcome to WORD TURNING!

Penny

Here’s the great Michael Rosen. He
has video-recorded all the poems from his collection, The Hypnotiser”, and put them
online as a learning resource. Such an enjoyable idea.

About Me

Hello! I'm a published children's writer and storyteller, ready to blog about the random words and gathered phrases that make me muse about the art & craft of writing, together with odd glimpses into an author's life.